Folding screen



sept. 22,- 1925. 1,554,334

. H. B. cRANsHAw ET Ax.

FOLDING SCREEN Filed May 24. 1924 A 225519 jzveeof Patented Sept. 22, 19215.

UNITED gsl'rnrlzs PATENTOFFICE.

HAROLD B. CRAN-SHAW, OF WEST NEWTON, AND ELBRIDGE HUFF, OF SOMRVILLE,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO CUTTER MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, 0F EVER- ETT, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS. v

FOLDING SCREEN.

Application led May 24, 1924. Serial No. 715,714.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it .known that we, HAROLD B. CRAN- sHAw and ELBRIDGE. HUrr, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Test'Newton and Somerville, respectively, both in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usful Improvements in Folding Screens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to screens comprising a frame-work enclosing a sheet of suitable material and more particularly to lire screens having a plurality of folding sections each comprising a metal framework surrounding a wire netting. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a screen of .simple and durable construction havingA a rigid framework which is economical to manufacture, practically indestructible in use and of pleasing appearance.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises in general a plurality of substantially rectangular screen sections pivotally interconnected -to form a jointed screen r adapted to be placed in extended position or to be folded together when not in use. Since this is av construction common to the prevailing types of lire screens, the construction embodying the present invention is not illustrated in its entirety, but several concrete embodiments thereof are shown in the accompanying fragmentary drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the corners of two adjoining screen members;

Fig. 9. is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vsection on the line 4 4: of Fig 3; 1 y

Fig.,5 is a plan View, similar to Fig. 1, of an optional'construction;

Fig 6 is a side elevation of Fig. ,5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view ou the line 7-7 of Fig 5; v

Fig. 8 is a transversesection on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and Y Figs. 9 and 1() aredetail views, showing sections preferably consist of a tube of rigid metal, such as brass which also lends beauty to the completedstructure, and the ends of the tubing are preferably cut at an angle of 1 approximately forty-live degrees to form a close :fitting union between adjacent sections. A longitudinal slot- 12, best shown in Figs. 4 andS, extends along the entire length of each section of tubing in such position that the slots in each section will meet, to form a continuous longitudinal opening around the innermost vportion of they assembled screen frame.

In order to give greater strength and durability to the screen frame and to insure a tight'and practically non-displaceable ioint at the corners thereof, there is provided an elbow 13, adapted closely to fit within the tubing 11 at each corner of the frame. The elbows are preferably constructed of hollow angular castings of bronze, or pressed steel, with smoothed, substantially cylindrical surfaces having a diameter approximately equal to the bore of the tubings 11. Slots 14 in the elbows are adapted to register with the slots 12 in the tubing,`to constitute means for fixedly retaining therewithin a central'screen 15. In connection with means hereinafter explained for fixing the position of the upper. and vlower frame sections 11 with respect to the elbows 13 and for securing the side frame sections to prevent vertical movement thereof relative to said elbows, the latter also serve to prevent relative dislodgement or separation of the corners of the frame sections, thereby prolonging the useful life of the screen. i

The screen 15 is illustrated to consist preferably of a network of wire for use as a irescreen, but any desired material may be employed to suit the kpurpose of use. The edges of this screen are. preferably Vstiifened by a strip or strips of'metal binding' 16 pressed about said edges, and are adapted to be inserted within the slots 12 and 14, of the tubing and elbows, when the screen is assembled within the framework. The assemblage may be conveniently effected by first uniting three sections of the tubing, then sliding the screen into position through the slots 12 and 1l, and finally placing the fourth section, which should carry two of the elbows 1?, into position to enclose the screen within the framework. In thus assembling the individual screen sections, it is preferred that the elbows 13 and the bore adjacent the ends of the tubing 11 should be tinned in order that the elbows may be sweated into the tubing, thereby effecting a secure and rigid joint at each corner of the frame. If desired, a small amount of solder may be run between the meeting edges of the tubing at each corner.

Two possible constructions for unit-ing the screen sections to form a. folding screen are illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 respectively..

In the first construction vertical rods 17, preferably of brass, extend through the tubing 11 and elbows 13 and project through corresponding hole-s in said tubing and elbows at top and bottom, where they may be secured in position by nuts 1S threaded `to the rods. The rods in adjacent screen sections are interconnected at top and bottom by a rigid metal link 19 adapted to space the said screen sections from each other and to permit each section to be folded flat against its neighbor. Knobs 20 are screwed tightly upon the threaded ends of the rods 17 to restrain vert-ical movement, but to permit pivotal movements of the links 19.

VThe second construction comprises a vertical metal rod 20, extending at one end through the central portion of a metal link 21, and preferably peened or soldered within a second similar link at its other end. This rod 2O is adapted to lie between the side frames of two adjacent screen sections, and is pivotally secured to each of said sections by the engagement of iholes in either end of said link 21 with projecting vertical pintles 22 carried by set screws 23 which are fastened within threaded holes in the tubing 11 and elbows 18, as shown in Fig. 7. The links are pivotally secured upon their respect-ive pintles by fastening the nut or knob 9A upon the free end of the rod 20. The set screws 23 preferably have hexagonal heads, and it is apparent that they may fasten within threaded holes either in the tubing or in the elbow, or in both.

Although the preceding description has referred to a framework consisting of tubular members it is obvious that rectangular' or other shapes of framework may be employed equally as well. In such other constructions the metal elbows should conform in shape to the bore of the frames, and in case a rectangular elbow is desired, a convenient manner of constructing such elbow is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. A metal blank may be cut substantially as in Fig. 9 and may then be folded along the dotted lines to' complete the elbow as shown in perspective in Fig. 10.

In either of the constructions heretofore explained it is apparent that the members constituting the pivotal connection between adjacent screen members serve to permit the screen to be folded together and, in connection with the elbows 13, also serve as an aid in maintaining the rigidity and in preventing displacement or separation of the tubing constituting the framework of each screen section. ln Figs. 1 to fl, the metal rods 17 pass through the 'elbow 13 and tubing 11 lpreventing displacement of the tube unions in a horizontal direction, and the nuts 18, at top and bottom, lirinly secure the frames against vertical displacement. Similarly in Figs. 5 to 8, the set screws 2?) extending into the elbows 18 prevent separation of the corner joints horizontally; and the links 21 are clamped upon the set screws 23 preventing separation in a vertical direction.

We claim:

1. A folding screen comprising a plurality of screen sections, each having a central screen portion and hollow frames surrounding and fitting about said central screen portion, said frames having meeting ends at the corners of each of said screen members, elbows adapted closely to fit within the meeting ends of said hollow frames to provide a tight and rigid union therebetween, and means for pivotally interconnecting adjacent screen sections, said means interlocking said elbows and frames.

folding' screen in which each section comprises tubular side and end members meeting at the corners, tubular elbows telescop-ing with the side and end members at the corners, said members and elbows having slots in their inner sides, a screen fitting intosaid slots, and means pivotally interconnecting the sections, said means interlocking said members and elbows.

8. A folding screen in which each section comprises tubular side and end members n eting at the corners, tubular elbows telescoping with the side and end members at the corners, said members and elbows having slots in their inner sides, a screen litt-ing into said slots, and means pivotally interconnecting the sections, said means including pivots extending through said ends and thence into said elbows.

el. A. folding screen con'iprising a plurality of screen sections, each having a central screen portion and hollow metal frames surrounding and fitting about said central screen portion, said frames having meeting ends at the corners of each of said screen members, elbows adapted closely to tit within the meeting `ends of -said hollow frames to provide a tight and rigid union therebetween and means comprising ivotal members radially extending througi said metal elbows and through at least one of the walls of said hollow frames to prevent relative longitudinal displacement therebetween, and links pivotally secured upon said members for 'interconnecting adjacent screen members.

5. A folding screen comprising a plurality of screen sections, each having a central screen portion and hollow frames surrounding and fitting about said central screen poi'- tion, hollow elbows adapted closely to lit within the" meeting ends of said hollow frames to provide a tight and rigid union therebetween, pivots passing through complemental radial holes in the outer walls of said hollow frames and said hollow elbows, to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween, and extending upwardly and downwardly from the upper and lower corners respectively of each of said screen sections, metal links interconnecting the respective pivots of adjacent screen sections, and means for retaining said links upon said pivots to secure the said frames. rigidly together and to restrainvertical movement of the upper and lower frames with respect to the side frames.

6. A folding screen comprising a plurality of screen sections, each having a central screen vortion and hollow frames surrounding anc fitting about said central screen po-rtion, hollow elbows adaptedclosely to lit within the meeting ends of said `hollow frames at the corners of said screen sections to provide a tight and rigid union between said frames, longitudinal slots in said hollow frames and slots in said hollow elbows registering with said frame slots, said slots being positioned in the inner side of said frames and elbows and being adapted to receive and retain the said central screen portion', and means for pivot-ally interconnecting adjacent screen sections whereby they may be folded flat against each other.

7. A folding screen comprising a plurality of screen sections, each having a central screen. portion and hollow frames surrounding and tit-ting about said central screen portion, hollow elbows adapted to tit within the meeting ends of said hollow frames at the corners of said Screen sect-ions to provide a tight and rigid union between said frames,

longitudinal slots in said hollow elbows in registration with said frame slots, said slots being positioned in the inner side of said frames and elbows and being adapted to receive and retain the said central screen portion in ixed position, and means for pivotally interconnecting adjacent screen sections,` said means comprising pivots extending through complementa-l radial holes in the walls of said hollow frames to prevent relative longitudinal movement tlierebetween, rigid metal links connecting the respective pivots on adjacent screen members at top and bottom, and means for securing said links upon said pivots to restrain separation of the meeting ends of the said frames in a vertical direction.

8. A folding screen comprising a. plurality of substantially rectangular screen sections, each having central wire screen portion and tubular metal frames surrounding and fitting about said central screen portion, said frames having diagonal meeting ends constituting the corners of said screen sections, hollow metal elbows closely fitting within the said tubular frames at the said corners thereof, to provide a tight and rigid joint therebetween, longitudinal slots in the inner wall of said frames and slots in said elbows in registration with said frame slots, said slots |constituting means for holding the said central screen portion in fixed position withiny the frame, pivots passing through complemental radial holes in the horizontal outer walls of said tubular frames and said hollow elbows for preventing relative longil tudinal movement therebetween, at least one of said pivots being positioned near each corner of said screen sections and extending outwardly from said frames, met-al links interconnecting the Said outwardly extending portions of the respective pivots of adjacent screen members, and means for rotatably securing said links upon said pivots to fasten the said frame sections rigidly together ant to rest-rain disengagement of said frame joints.

9. A screen comprising a framework of hollow members meeting at the ends, reinforcing members interiitting with the meeting ends, vmeans extending through adjacent hollow members and the reinforcing member associated therewith to hold the same together, said hollow members and said reinforcing member having slots on their inner sides, and a central screen portion fitting into said slots.

10. A screen comprising a framework of hollow members meet-ing at the corners, elbows telescoping into the meeting ends, means cooperating with and extending through each pair of meeting ends and the elbow telescoping therewith for holding said parts together, said members and elbows having slots on their inner sides, and a central screenport-ion litting into said slots;

11. A folding screen in which each section 'comprises hollow side and end inembers meeting at the corners, hollow elbows telescoping with the side and end members at the corners, said members and elbows having slots in their inner sides, a screen fitting in said slots, and means for pivotally interconnecting the Sections including rods extending longitudinally within said end members andL passing` through said elbows.

l2. A folding screen each section o1 which comprises hollow top and bottom and oud members meeting at the corners and hollow elbows telescoping with the side and end members at the corners, and means for piv- 10 otally interconnecting the sections ineluding members extending if'ertieally through said top and bottom members into said elbows.

Signed by us at Boston,4 Massachusetts, this 21st day of May, 1924.

HAROLD B. CRANSHAV. ELBRIDGE HUFF. 

